Diego Maradona on England, ‘Hand of God’, World Cups, Terry Butcher, 1966 and all that

As Diego Maradona touched down in Scotland to a warm welcome ahead of
Argentina’s friendly at Hampden Park, everyone wanted to know what the World
Cup winner thought of England, Terry Butcher and his infamous ‘Hand of God
goal’. He didn’t disappoint.

“I’m not going to seek him out, I don’t know why Butcher is taking this attitude [the former England defender claimed he would not shake Maradona’s hand if they met]. If people are fine with me, I will greet them. I’m not going to lose any sleep over it. If he doesn’t shake my hand, I’ll still be alive tomorrow.”

On England’s 1966 World cup win:

“England won the World Cup with a goal that never crossed the line. The ball was that far [extending his hands a foot apart] short of a line. It’s not fair that you should judge me when things like that went on.”

On the ‘Hand of God’ goal and the Falklands War:

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“The truth is that I don’t for a second regret scoring that goal with my hand. When I did the ball boys were quite timid. They came over to embrace me but it was as if they were saying: ‘We’ve robbed them’. But I said to them: ‘Whoever robs a thief gets a 100-year pardon.'”

On Sepp Blatter:

“[Blatter] is there to serve us. He is our slave because without him, we can all still play football, but he is nothing without us,”

On managing Argentina:

“I don’t feel under any pressure whatsoever. If I hadn’t accepted this offer I would have been a coward.”

On George Bush’s 2005 visit to Argentina:

“Let’s kick Bush out... We are going to stand against the human trash known as Bush. I cannot accept the fact he will set foot on Argentine land. he disdains us and tramples over us yet we kowtow to him.”

On his own divinity:

“I don’t really feel that I am God. There is one God and it’s not me. People have faith in me, they believe in me as perhaps they believe in God and I’m not going to contradict them.”

On Cocaine addiction:

“I only ever harmed myself.”

On his tattoo of Che Guevara:

“I too am a rebel in this convoluted world.”

On his life:

“Sometimes I have felt like Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”